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Small Venues Fund - Fund Administrator

North East Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Sep 2026 at 11:55

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North East Combined Authority intends to appoint an external fund administrator for the Small Venues Fund, a phased programme supporting grassroots creative venues across North East England. The administrator will provide a fully managed grant service from initial enquiries through to project closure. The scope covers programme mobilisation, applicant support, expressions of interest, full applications, appraisal and due diligence, independent assessment panel administration, grant contracting, subsidy control compliance, monitoring, financial management, payments, reporting, management information and programme evaluation. The work is a public-sector grant administration and cultural-sector support service, classified under CPV 66151000, financial market operational services. Delivery covers North East England, including the North East Combined Authority area and the wider North East region. The fund is intended to help venues host events, support artists and operators, increase touring opportunities and contribute to the regional visitor economy.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced an intention to procure and has not issued an invitation to tender. It is expected to use an above-threshold open procedure under the light-touch regime for services. The planned procurement has one lot. The contract is expected to run from 10 November 2026 to 31 August 2029. The buyer’s indicative timetable expects tender responses by 7 October 2026, enquiries by 28 September 2026 and an award decision by 10 November 2026; these are planning expectations rather than a current invitation to respond. The contract value is up to £250,000 excluding VAT, or £300,000 including VAT. The wider programme is valued at £2.45 million, including £2.2 million reserved for grants to venues. Submissions are expected in English.

When the procurement reaches the market, it will suit organisations that already administer public-sector grants and understand the creative and cultural sector. Relevant suppliers are likely to have the systems and staff to manage a phased grant programme at scale, supporting applicants from early enquiry through assessment, contracting, monitoring and closure. The buyer is looking for a fully managed service rather than a narrow back-office function, so bidders should be prepared to provide applicant-facing support, due diligence, independent panel administration, subsidy control compliance, payment administration, management information and evaluation support. Experience working with grassroots venues, artists, venue operators and cultural programmes would be directly relevant. Organisations able to combine robust financial controls and grant compliance with practical knowledge of the regional creative economy should prepare for the future competition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Small Venues Fund - Fund Administrator

Notice Description

Following the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) Cabinet meeting in March 2026, North East Mayor Kim McGuiness announced a package of PS104million to turbocharge the region's creative industries driving new jobs and opportunities for local people. As part of that package, a commitment was made to back small venues across North East England. Working alongside the sector, the North East MSA's Small Venues Fund (SVF) has been developed to support creative grassroots venues, providing them with the resources and capacity to host events and provide space and a platform for creatives to thrive. It has been shaped to ensure that this fund is fit for purpose and supports an array of artists from across the creative industries. The fund will support an increase in opportunities for both artists and venue operators supporting the exposure of such facilities both within the region and further afield. The fund will open more opportunities to touring artists, providing an increase in the visitor economy and a wider economic impact. The North East MSA is looking to appoint an external Fund Administrator with experience of public sector grant administration and knowledge of the creative and cultural sector to manage the programme from initial enquiry through to project closure. The fund will be delivered on a phased basis. The successful bidder will provide a fully managed grant administration service for the Small Venues Fund. Services will include: o Programme mobilisation. o Applicant support and enquiry management. o Expression of Interest management. o Full application management. o Application appraisal and due diligence. o Independent assessment panel administration. o Grant contracting and subsidy control compliance. o Grant monitoring and compliance activity. o Financial management and payment administration. o Reporting and management information. o Support for programme evaluation. The overall project value is PS2.45m million, of which PS2.2 million is set aside for grant awards. The value of the contract for the Fund Administrator is up to PS250,000 excluding VAT, for the duration of the contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f045
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083003-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

CPV Codes

66151000 - Financial market operational services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Nov 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North East Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE4 5BZ
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham, TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Arthur's Hill
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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